Method of making baskets



April 9, 1957 Filed Nov. 26. 1954 D. SHUKAIT METHOD OF MAKING BASKETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 9, 1957 D. SHUKAIT METHOD OF MAKING BASKETS Filed Nov. 26. 1954 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 w INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,787,821 METHOD or MAKING BASKETS David Shukait, Lorain, Ohio Application November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,291

4 Claims. c1. 25-155 This invention relates to the process of making a concrete basket.

In the past many structures have been built by pouring concrete into molds which form it into the desired shape. It was found that in the manufacturing of concrete replicas of baskets each rib and band of the basket had to be cast separately.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method of making a replica of a basket.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a completed basket.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a partially completed basket.

Figure 3 is atop view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlargement of a section of the basket.

The basket illustrated in Figure 1 is a concrete replica of an ordinary market basket. The basket consists of a plurality of weaves or hands interwoven on a plurality of ribs 11 which are integrally joined with a base plate 12. The basket also has a handle 13 and a rim 14 which joins the top ends of the ribs 11 together and trims the edge of the basket. The ribs 11 and the bands 10 are cast from concrete into the well known basket weave pattern.

In constructing the basket a plurality of ribs 11 are cast using any suitable material or structure for forms. As is best illustrated in Figure 2 the bottom ends of the ribs 11 are curved to give the completed basket the appearance of a rounded bottom. It is understood that the ribs 11 as well as any other part of the basket may be reinforced with metal rods if desired.

After the ribs 11 have been formed they are supported in an upright position in an enclosing pattern form with the rounded or bottom end of the ribs in the form. This form is not illustrated since it is a shallow box with side walls such as is used in casting flat bases of concrete. The ribs may be supported in an upright position by any desired bracing method which will hold them in position. The concrete base 12 is then poured around the ribs and in the form to hold them in the upright position illustrated in Figure 2 after the form and bracing has been removed. The ends of the ribs become imbedded in the base plate 12.

The next step in the process is to fasten the triangular shaped strips such as strips 15 to the adjacent edges of the adjacent ribs 11. These strips 15 are constructed preferably of wood and may be fastened to the ribs 11 by small wires or other suitable means. The strips 15 remain on the ribs throughout the remaining operations and until the basket is completed.

After the strips are in place a band form is constructed to cast the bottom most band 10 around the ribs 11 and adjacent to the base plate 12. One section of the form, constructed from sheet metal or other suitable mate- ICC rial, extends from the strip 15 on one rib 11 around the next adjacent rib 11 and is fastened to the strip 15 on the following rib 11. Similarly other sections of the form extend between other ribs so that the complete form weaves in and out around the ribs 11 entirely around the basket. In Figure 4 a section of the basket weave with the forms has been enlarged to illustrate the positioning of these forms. After the form has been constructed, concrete is poured and allowed to harden into that band.

After one band has hardened a new set of forms are constructed on top of that band for pouring the next succeeding hand. If the previously cast band was positioned on the outside of a particular rib the forms for the next band are positioned on the inside of the same rib. Since at a particular rib the band is not directly on top of the previous band, a form bottom is constructed. This may be in the shape of a very thin form member 16 which is cut to fit around the rib. The form member 16 may be held in place by fastening it to the previously cast band or securing it to the remainder of the form.

It is noted that each band is cast independently and in its turn on the previously cast band. The forms for each band are constructed after the next lower or previous band has hardened. Where a band will cross over a next adjacent previously cast band, that portion of the previously cast band may be used as a part of the form for the next band. This process is continued until a suflicient number of bands have been cast to reach the top ends of the ribs 11. It is understood that each of the bands 10 may be reinforced by imbedding reinforcing rods therein.

The next step in the operation is to construct a form for the handle 13 and cast it. These forms areheld in place so that the ends of the handle 13 align with the top ends of desired ribs on opposite sides of the basket. 'In the particular basket illustrated the handle has a width and thickness approximately equal to the ribs on which the handle is cast. This gives the appearance in the completed basket that the handle and the ribs extending in alignment therewith are a single piece extending from the bottom of the basket on one side, through the hands, over the top of the basket and through the bands on the opposite side to the bottom thereof.

After the handle has hardened the next step in the operation is to construct the forms on the uppermost of the bands 10 to form the rim 14. The rim 14 ties the top ends of all the ribs 11 and the ends of the handle 13 together as a single unit. The rim 14 is positioned so that it completely encloses the ends of the ribs 11 and the joining of the ends of the handle 13 to the particular ribs it is in extending alignment with. After the rim 14 has hardened the forms are removed and the basket is ready for its final touchup except for the triangular strips 15 which are secured to the edges of the ribs 11. These strips 15 must be mutilated or cut into extremely short pieces to remove them from the basket weave. When the strips 15 have been removed the weave of the bands on the ribs is a duplicate of that ordinarily found in basket construction where flexible materials can .be woven around the ribs. It is also noted that the basket has the same internal and external duplication of an ordinary basket.

Therefore, although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making a concrete basket consisting.

base about theends of said ribs to form the bottom base of the basket and allowing the base to harden, securing triangular wooden strips to the facing edges of adjacent ribs, securing, a band form to the triangular strips of al.- ternating ribs with theiba'se forminga part of the form, pouring concrete in said band form and allowing it to harden, then" constructing. a band form and pouringconcrete in each succeedingfband with the hardened concrete of the previously poured band forming part of the form until the topiend of the ribs is reached,.then constructing a' handle form and casting a handle with the ends thereof in extending alignment with ribs on' opposite sides of the basket, and finally constructing a rim form around the top-ends of the ribs and the ends ofthe handle andpouring'concrete in said rim form to completely tie' the top ends of the ribs and the handle into a unitary structure.

2. The method ofmaking a concrete basket consisting of the steps of casting a pluralityof ribs, standing the ribs on end and castingaconcrete base about one end of said ribs to form the bottom of the basket, constructing a band form on the inside of alternating ribs and on the outside of the remaining ribs with the base forming a part of the form, casting a concrete band" in said form, then constructing band forms and casting concrete in each succeeding band one at a time with each previously cast band forming a partof the form for the next band, until the top end of the ribs is reached, then constructing a handle form aligned with ribs on opposite sides'of' the basket and casting a handle, and finally constructing a rim form around the top edges of the ribs and casting concrete insaid rim forms to completely tie the top ends of the ribs and the handleinto a unitary structure.

3. The method of making a concrete replica of a hasket consisting of the steps of casting a plurality of ribs, standing the ribs on end' in a shallow base form in' spaced relation around the periphery thereof, pouring a concrete baseabout the ends of said ribs to form the bottom base of the basket and allowing the base to harden, securing triangular wooden strips to the facing edges of adjacent ribs, constructing a band form on said base in a weaving fashion on the inside of one rib and on the outside of an adjacent rib by securing band form members to the triangular strips of alternate ribs, pouring concrete in said form to form a band of the replica basket and allowing it to harden in intimate union with the base and a portion of each rib, constructing a second band form on said previously cast band in a weaving fashion on the outside of. said rib and on the inside of said adjacent rib by securing band form members to the triangular strips of alternate ribs, pouring concrete in said form to form an- 50 other band of the replica basket and allowing it to harden in intimate union with spaced portions of the previously cast band and a portion of each rib, then constructing a V rib on the opposite side ofthebaskct, placing concrete in said handle form andallowing it to harden in intimate union with the top ends of its joining ribs, next construct,

ing a rim form on the. last formed band in. a rib end enclosing fashion, and finally pouring concrete in said form and allowing it to harden in intimate union with the ends of all the ribs.

4. The method of making a concrete replica of a basket consisting of the steps of casting a plurality of ribs, standing the ribs on end in a shallow base form in spaced relation around the periphery thereof, pouring a concrete base about the ends of said ribs to form the bottom base of the basket and allowing the base to harden, securing triangular wooden strips to the facing edges of adjacent ribs, constructing a band form on said base ina weaving fashion on the inside of one rib and on the outside of an adjacent rib by securing band form members to the triangular strips of alternate ribs, pouring concrete in said form to form a band of the replica basket and allowing. it to harden in intimate union with the base and a portion.

of each rib, constructing a. second band form on. said previously cast band in weaving fashion on the outside of said adjacent rib by securing band form members to the triangular strips of alternate ribs, pouring concrete in said form to form another band of the replica basket and allowing it to harden in intimate union with spaced portions of the previously cast band and a portion of each rib, then constructing a band form and pouring. concrete to form each succeeding band until the top ends of the ribs are reached, next constructing a rim form on the last formed band in rib end enclosing fashion and finally pouring concrete in said rim form and allowing it to harden in intimate union with all the ends of all the ribs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,267,125 Schwedler May 21, 1918 1,368,131 Fluor Feb. 8, 1921:

1,551,469 Cummings Aug. 25, i925 FOREIGN PATENTS 961,606 France May 16, i950 

